Thong support

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a support device for holding a thong in place within a wearer&#39;s outer garments, e.g. a skirt, pair of jeans, shorts, capris, or any other variation of pants and/or shorts, such that the thong can remain hidden as an undergarment rather than being visible from the wearer&#39;s outer garments. The present invention is configured to support all types of thongs, including but not limited to, a T-String, G-String or a Regular Thong, and further comprises of securing means for holding the thong in a desired position for a prescribed time. The securing means may comprise of hooks that are strategically spaced apart to exert a downward pulling force on the rear straps of the thong for maximum effectiveness in resisting the upward opposing force of the rear thong straps when the present invention is being worn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As fashion trends adopt a more eclectic expression, the thong as a preferred undergarment for wearing with jeans, skirts and slacks has increased in importance and has become almost a necessary staple in a woman's wardrobe. Women choose to wear thongs for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, avoiding panty lines visible through one's outer garments, as well as wanting a smoother fit. However, thong wearers have noticed that they may have eliminated the visible panty lines from the exterior only to have the thong reveal itself when the wearer is seated or suddenly arises without first adjusting their outer garments. This is especially true when wearing low riding jeans where the thong has a tendency to reveal itself even if that was not the desired effect. Thus there exists a need to have the thong remain invisible as an undergarment when worn.

Thongs have a natural tendency to rise to the waist to settle in an area of least resistance. However, on occasion the thong wearer requires the thong to be in a lower position than the waist. Thong wearers have attempted to solve this problem by lowering the rear straps of their thongs within the confines of their outer garments only to have the tong's rear straps steadily rise and invariably reveal itself as the day wears on. Thus, there exists a need to secure a thong within the confines of an outer garment and for the thong to remain in the secured position for a prescribed time.

A similar problem occurs as an individual may successfully secure a thong at the beginning of a day, but as the individual participates in different activities throughout the day, e.g. clothes shopping, swimming, and dinner, the thong wearer finds it difficult to repeatedly secure the thong in the exact same desired position. Thus, there exists a need to be able to secure one's thong repeatedly in the precise desired position and have the thong straps remain in the desired position as the individual engages in different activities throughout the day.

The present invention satisfies these longstanding needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The thong support is directed to a support device for holding a thong in place within a wearer's outer garments, e.g. a skirt, pair of jeans, shorts, capris, or any other variation of pants and/or shorts, such that the thong may remain hidden as an undergarment rather than being visible from the wearer's outer garments. The thong support is provided with securing means for holding the thong in a desired position for as long as the wearer requires.

In the preferred embodiment, the securing means are clothes hooks that are strategically spaced apart such that the thong support is sufficiently taut when worn exerting a downward pull on the rear straps of a thong keeping them in the desired position within the confines of an outer garment. The thong support is fitted with a cover flap that is long enough to flap over the hooks and adequately cover them as they secure the thong in place while providing a comfortable fit and a seamless look from the thong wearer's outer garments. It is understood that other securing means, e.g. fasteners, snaps, press hooks, tabs, cloth hoops or other like securing means that are well known and used in the art may be used as a securing means for the thong support.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the thong support has closing means for keeping the cover flap in a closed position when the thong support is being worn. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the closing means comprises of male and female Velcro® straps. In alternate embodiments of the invention, other closing means such as fasteners, snaps, self-adhesive strips, hooks or other like closing means that are well known and used in the arts may be used for the invention.

The thong support is made of fabric that is strong, durable, flexible and elastic, yet soft enough to be worn against the wearer's skin. The thong support is sufficiently wide enough to insure cradling of the thong straps while avoiding visible detection from an outer garment. In the preferred embodiment, the thong support is made of Lycra and may be reinforced on the edges to provide strengthening and durability. In the preferred embodiment, the thong support is detachable and can be used repeatedly with various outer garments.

The thong support is affixed to the outer garment by fastening means, which in the preferred embodiment is made of Velcro® straps comprising of a male and female end. On the rear of the thong support, there is a Velcro® strip which is capable of attachment to a corresponding opposing Velcro® strip of similar size and configuration. The corresponding opposing Velcro® strip further comprises of a self-adhesive layer on its rear such that the thong support can be affixed to the inside of an outer garment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a thong support to secure a thong in place in an outer garment and have the thong remain consistently in the desired position for a prescribed period of time.

Another object of the invention is to have the means to secure a thong in place in a desired location keeping the thong invisible from the wearer's exterior garments.

Another object of the invention is to have the means to secure a thong in place in a desired location while providing for a seamless fit where the thong support is invisible from an outer garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thong support that is reusable and easily transferred to different outer garments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thong support that is strong enough to exert sufficient tension on the straps of a thong to secure the thong in place yet is comfortable when worn.

Various undergarment configurations may incorporate these above described thong support elements.

For a further and more fully detailed understanding of the present invention, various objectives, aspects, features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings herein. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead is placed on illustrating the various aspects of the invention. The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the thong support according to the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates a rear view with a partial outline in phantom lines of a wearer's body.

FIG. 4B illustrates a rear view with a partial outline in phantom lines of a wearer's body in a seated position.

FIG. 4C illustrates a rear view with a partial outline in phantom lines of a wearer's body as the wearer reclines on her side.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the thong support according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings herein. The detailed description stated below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the sole forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the thong support 10 according to the invention. The thong support 10 is configured to support all types of thongs, including but not limited to, a T-String, G-String or a Regular Thong, and comprises of securing means. In the preferred embodiment, the securing means comprise of a pair of clothing hooks 12, 12′ adapted and configured to secure the rear straps of a thong. As previously mentioned, thong straps have a natural tendency to rise upward and in order to have them remain in a desired position a certain amount of downward force must be consistently applied when the thong is being worn. Thus, the hooks 12, 12′ are strategically spaced apart to provide maximum effectiveness in resisting the upward opposing force of the rear thong straps when the thong support 10 is being worn. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the securing means may comprise of straps, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, press hooks, tabs, cloth hoops, buckles, a combination of the foregoing, or other securing means that are well known and used in the art. The hooks 12, 12′ are configured such that they are large enough to engage the rear straps of a thong and strong enough to generate a significant downward pulling force on the rear straps of a thong to hold them in place when the thong support 10 is being worn. The hooks 12, 12′ are affixed towards the bottom portion 14 of the thong support 10 and are sewn or otherwise attached. The thong support 10 further comprises of a cover flap 16 that extends upwardly and folds over covering the hooks 12, 12′ as they support the rear straps of the thong such that the wearer is not encumbered with the feel of hooks 12, 12′ in their back.

In one embodiment of the thong support 10, the thong support 10 further comprises of closing means for keeping the thong support 10 in a closed position once the rear straps of the thong is secured. In that embodiment of the invention the closing means further comprise of a pair of male and female Velcro® strips 20, 20′ wherein at least one Velcro® strip 20 is attached to the bottom portion 14 of the thong support 10 for mating engagement with a corresponding Velcro® strip 20 attached to the top of the cover flap 16 of the thong support 10. Once the thong straps are secured in the thong support 10, the cover flap 16 folds over covering the hooks 12, 12′ and the Velcro® strips 20, 20′ are in mating engagement with each other thereby closing the thong support 10. It is understood that the Velcro® strips 20, 20′ may be configured to be significantly shorter than the width of the thong support 10 or that more than one pair of Velcro® strips 20, 20′ of varied lengths and widths may be used to close the thong support 10. It is also understood that the pair of Velcro® strips 20, 20′ may be positioned in any location on the thong support 10 that will accomplish the objectives of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. As seen in FIG. 2, in an alternate embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprise of press hooks 12, 12′ that are configured to face upwardly and outwardly. The rear straps of the thong can then be placed within the aperture 17, 17′ of the hooks 12, 12′ and the hooks 12, 12′ can then be pressed into a closed position, securing the thong straps to provide pressure on the thong straps pulling them downward and retaining that downward pull while the thong support 10 is being worn. When the thong wearer desires to remove the thong from the thong support 10, the thong wearer opens closing means and the press hooks 12, 12′ thereby releasing the thong straps from the press hooks 12, 12′ which releases the thong.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the invention. As seen in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the invention the thong support 10 comprises of a hook and loop configuration such that the hooks 12, 12′ are affixed to the lower portion of the thong support 10 and the corresponding loops 13, 13′ (not shown) are affixed to the upper surface of the cover flap 16. Both the hooks 12, 12′ and the loops 13, 13′ are positioned such that each hook 12, 12′ and the corresponding loop 13, 13′ can be hooked in the conventional manner so that the bottom portion 14 of the thong support 10 and the cover flap 16 are held together to properly secure the thong in the desired position.

The thong support 10 is made of firm, stretchable fabric that is supportive enough to withstand pressure yet comfortable enough to be worn against a wearer's skin. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the thong support 10 is made of Spandex material. However, in alternate embodiments of the invention, the thong support 10 may comprise of a blend of fabrics which may include Spandex, Lycra and/or cotton. The thong support 10 is sufficiently wide to engage both the right and left rear straps of the thong at the point where the downward pulling force can be applied to achieve maximum effect and accomplish the objectives of the invention. The length and the stiffness of the thong support 10 is similarly selected so as to cause the rear straps of the thong to be fully engaged within the thong support 10 to exert the appropriate downward pulling force on the rear thong straps when the thong support 10 is worn. The edge of the thong support 10 may be reinforced along its entire perimeter to provide additional support to withstand repeated wear and the pressure being applied to the thong straps to hold the thong in the desired position. Thus, a comfortable yet highly effective thong support 10 is provided.

FIG. 4A illustrates a rear view with a partial outline in phantom lines of a wearer's body. Here the rear straps of the thong support 10 are secured in place in the thong support 10 applying considerable pressure on the thong to remain in the desired location. As seen in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, once the rear straps of a thong, whether a T-String, G-String or a Regular Thong, are secured in the thong support 10, the thong support 10 keeps the thong in place whether the wearer is standing, seated or reclining.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the thong support 10 according to the invention. The rear 24 of the thong support 10 comprises of fastening means that provides for the thong support 10 to be affixed to an outer garment. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening means comprises of at least one pair of strips 14, 42 made of Velcro® with male and female ends in mating engagement with each other, such that the thong support 10 can be repeatedly fastened to, or released from an outer garment without compromising the fastening capabilities of the strips 14, 42 or the effectives of the thong support 10 in securing the thong. It is understood that in alternate embodiments of the invention, other fastening means, including but not limited to, loops snaps, stitches, glue, straps, hook and loop fasteners, press hooks, tabs, cloth hoops, buckles or other fastening means can be used to affix the thong support 10 to an outer garment. One of the strips 14, 42 made of Velcro®, either the male or the female end, has a self-adhesive layer on its rear 18 such that the thong support 10 can be affixed to the inside of an outer garment to secure the thong support 10. Accordingly, the thong support 10 is detachable and is easily removed from an outer garment. One of the benefits of having a detachable strip 42 is the ability to repeatedly reuse the thong support 10 in varied outer garments. Should the self-adhesive layer become compromised or loses its adhesiveness, it is easily replaced with another detachable strip 42 without compromising the use and effectiveness of the thong support 10.

In an alternate embodiment of the thong support 10, there is no detachable strip 42 and the entire thong support 10 is permanently affixed to an outer garment by stitches or other fastening means and is ready and available for use. In that event, in order to engage the thong support 10 the rear straps of the thong must be positioned within the hooks 12, 12′ and secured within the thong support 10 to secure the thong in position to the outer garment.

In an alternate embodiment of the thong support 10, the detachable strip 42 of the thong support 10 is already permanently affixed to an outer garment by stitches or other fastening means. In that embodiment, the remainder of the thong support 10 is engaged for use by attaching the rear 24 of the thong support 10 with the corresponding opposing strip 14 to the detachable strip 42 such that the fastening means are in mating engagement with each other. In that event, the thong support is now affixed to the outer garment, ready and available for use. 

1. A thong support comprising of: a support device dimensioned to substantially cradle portions of the rear straps of a thong with the support device further comprising of: a front portion which includes securing means for engaging the rear straps of the thong and applying a downward pulling force on the thong holding the thong in position; a cover flap extending upwardly to cover the securing means of the thong support; and a rear portion further comprising of fastening means to affix the thong support to an outer garment.
 2. The thong support of claim 1, wherein said thong support is flexible yet stiff enough to exert a substantial downward pulling force on the rear straps of the thong.
 3. The thong support of claim 1, wherein said securing means includes straps, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, press hooks, tabs, cloth hoops and buckles.
 4. The thong support of claim 1, wherein said fastening means includes snaps, straps, stitches, glue, hook and loop fasteners, press hooks, tabs, cloth hoops and buckles.
 5. The thong support of claim 1, wherein said fastening means further comprises of a first portion and a second portion in mating engagement that may be selectively affixed one to another by closing means.
 6. The fastening means of claim 5, wherein the second portion is detachable and further comprises of an adhesive layer providing for an attachment to an interior of an outer garment.
 7. The fastening means of claim 5, wherein the second portion is permanently affixed to an interior of an outer garment.
 8. The thong support of claim 1, wherein the thong support further comprises of closing means on the cover flap and the bottom portion of the thong support that are in mating engagement with each other providing for closure of the thong support. 